Karnataka Minister Madhu Bangarappa Loses Cool Over Criticism Of His 'Limited' Kannada Proficiency

Karnataka's Education Minister, Madhu Bangarappa, stirred controversy during the launch of a state government initiative offering free online coaching for CET, JEE, and NEET aspirants on Wednesday.

The event took an unexpected turn when a student allegedly commented that the minister "doesn't know Kannada."

The remark, likely referencing criticism from opposition parties regarding Bangarappa's limited proficiency in Kannada, initially prompted a calm reaction.

"Am I speaking in Urdu? Switch on the TV and see," Bangarappa replied.

However, his tone soon changed, and he instructed officials to take action against the individual who made the comment, according to the Times of India.

In a now-viral video, Bangarappa is heard saying, "Whoever said I don't know Kannada, record it and take action against him. This is very stupid. Who are the teachers? This has to be taken up seriously." He then directed senior education officials, including Ritesh Kumar, Principal Secretary for School Education, and Sindhu Roopesh, PU Department Director, to address the issue.

Criticism from the Opposition

The incident sparked strong criticism from the BJP, which accused Bangarappa of stifling free speech. The official BJP Karnataka handle on X (formerly Twitter) quoted a Kannada proverb: "Telling someone the truth is akin to kicking them in the chest," and added, "This literally applies to our uneducated minister Madhu Bangarappa." The party further stated, "When reminded of his poor Kannada skills, the minister ordered severe action against the student, teachers, and officials. This dictatorial attitude is dangerous for democracy."

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal also condemned Bangarappa, saying, "It is widely known that the education minister does not speak Kannada fluently. In a democracy, everyone, including students, has the freedom of speech. The minister must accept constructive criticism."

According to the Times of India, it remains unclear whether the remark was made by a student or an official.

Nonetheless, the minister's response has ignited a debate on the tolerance for criticism and the importance of free speech in a democracy.